eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (12/16/90)
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X (popular on certain early models of Prime computers, presumably
X when UARTs were too expensive; and on archaic Z-80 micros with a
X Zilog PIO but no SIO). The technique is a simple loop with eight
X OUT, SHIFT, OUT etc. instructions for each byte. Input is more
X interesting. And full duplex (doing input and output at the same
X time) is one way to separate the real hackers from the wannabees.
X
XBIT BASHING n. (also, "bit diddling") Term used to describe any of
X several kinds of low-level programming characterized by
X manipulation of BIT, FLAG, NYBBLE and other smaller-than-character
X sized pieces of data: these include low-level device control,
X encryption algorithms, checksum and error-correcting codes, hash
X functions, some flavors of graphics programming (see BITBLT), and
X assembler/compiler code generation. May connote either tedium or a
X real technical challenge (more usually the former)."The command
X decoding for the new tape driver looks pretty solid but the
X bit-bashing for the control registers still has bugs." See also
X BIT BANG, BIT MASK.
X
XBIT BUCKET n. The great data sink in the sky (originally, the mythical
X receptacle used to catch bits when they fall off the end of a
X register during a shift instruction). Data that is discarded,
X lost, or destroyed is said to "go to the bit bucket". On UNIX,
X often used for /DEV/NULL (q.v.). Sometimes amplified as "the Great
X Bit Bucket in the Sky". This term is used purely in jest. It's
X based on the fanciful notion that bits are objects that are not
X destroyed, but only misplaced. See also NULL DEVICE.
X
XBIT DECAY n. See SOFTWARE ROT. People with a physics background tend
X to prefer this one for the analogy with particle decay.
X
XBIT ROT n. See SOFTWARE ROT.
X
XBITBLT /bit'blit/ or /bit'belt/ n. [from BLT, q.v.] 1. Any of a
X closely related family of algorithms for moving and copying
X rectangles of bits between main and display memory on a bit-mapped
X device, or between two areas of either main or display memory (the
X requirement to do the right thing in the case of overlapping source
X and destination rectangles is what makes BitBlt tricky). 2. Synonym for BLIT or BLT (q.v.)
X
XBITS n. 1. Information. Examples: "I need some bits about file
X formats." ("I need to know about file formats.") Compare CORE
X DUMP, sense #4. 2. Machine-readable representation of a document,
X specifically as contrasted with paper. "I only have a photocopy
X of the Jargon File; does anyone know where I can get the bits?".
X See SOFTCOPY. 3. Also in THE SOURCE OF ALL GOOD BITS n. A person
X from whom (or a place from which) information may be obtained. If
X you need to know about a program, a WIZARD might be the source of
X all good bits. The title is often applied to a particularly
X competent secretary.
X
XBITTY BOX /bit'ee boks/ n. 1. A computer sufficiently small, primitive
X or incapable as to cause a hacker acute claustrophobia at the
X thought of developing for it. Especially used of small,
X obsolescent, single-tasking-only personal machines like the Atari
X 800, Osborne, Sinclair, VIC-20, or TRS-80. 2. More generally, the
X opposite of `real computer' (see GET A REAL COMPUTER). Pejorative.
X See also MESS-DOS, TOASTER, and TOY.
X
XBIXIE /biks'ee/ n. Synonym for EMOTICON (q.v.) used on BIX (the Byte
X Information Exchange); BIXers believe (probably incorrectly) the
X emoticon was invented there.
X
XBLACK ART n. A collection of arcane, unpublished, and (by implication)
X mostly ad-hoc techniques developed for a particular application or
X systems area. VLSI design and compiler code optimization were (in
X their beginnings) considered classic examples of black art; as
X theory developed they became DEEP MAGIC, and once standard
X textbooks had been written became merely HEAVY WIZARDRY. The huge
X proliferation of formal and informal channels for spreading around
X new computer-related technologies during the last twenty years has
X made both the term "black art" and what it describes less common
X than formerly.
X
XBLACK HOLE n. When a piece of email or netnews disappears mysteriously
X between its origin and destination sites it is commonly said to
X have "fallen into a black hole". Similarly, one might say "I
X think there's a black hole at foovax!" to convey suspicion that
X site foovax has been dropping a lot of stuff on the floor lately.
X The implied metaphor of email as interstellar travel is interesting
X in itself.
X
XBLAST vt.,n. Synonym for BLT (q.v.), used esp. for large data sends
X over a network or comm line. Opposite of SNARF. Usage: uncommon.
X
XBLAZER n. Nickname for the Telebit Trailblazer, an expensive but
X extremely reliable and effective high-speed modem, popular at UNIX
X sites that pass large volumes of EMAIL and USENET news.
X
XBLETCH /blech/ [from Yiddish/German "brechen", to vomit] 1. interj.
X Term of disgust.
X
XBLETCHEROUS /blech'@-rus/ adj. Disgusting in design or function;
X aesthetically unappealing. This word is seldom used of people.
X "This keyboard is bletcherous!" (Perhaps the keys don't work very
X well, or are misplaced). See LOSING, CRETINOUS, BAGBITING, BOGUS,
X and RANDOM. BLETCHEROUS applies to the aesthetics of the thing so
X described; similarly for CRETINOUS. By contrast, something that is
X LOSING or BAGBITING may be failing to meet objective criteria. See
X BOGUS and RANDOM, which have richer and wider shades of meaning
X than any of the above.
X
XBLINKENLIGHTS /blink'@n-lietz/ n. Front-panel diagnostic lights on a
X mainframe CPU. Derives from the last word of the famous
X blackletter-Gothic "ACHTUNG! ALLES LOOKENSPEEPERS!" notice in
X mangled pseudo-German that once graced about half the computer
X rooms in the English-speaking world. The sign in its entiretu ran:
X
X ACHTUNG! ALLES LOOKENSPEEPERS
X Das computermachine ist nicht fur gefingerpoken und
X mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk,
X blowenfusen und poppencorken mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht
X fur gewerken bei das dumpkopfen. Das rubbernecken
X sichtseeren keepen hans in das pockets muss; relaxen
X und watch das blinkenlichten.
X
X This silliness dates back at least as far as 1959 at Stanford
X University and had already gone international by the early '60s,
X when it was reported at London University's ATLAS computing site.
X There are several variants of it in circulation.
X
XBLIT /blit/ vt. 1. To copy a large array of bits from one part of a
X computer's memory to another part, particularly when the memory is
X being used to determine what is shown on a display screen. "The
X storage allocator picks through the table and copies the good parts
X up into high memory, and at the end BLITs it all back down again."
X See BITBLT, BLT, DD, CAT, BLAST, SNARF, Appendix B. More
X generally, to perform some operation (such as toggling) on a large
X array of bits while moving them. 2. An early experimental
X bit-mapped terminal designed by Rob Pike at Bell Labs, later
X commercialized as the AT&T 5620.
X
XBLOCK [From computer science usage] 1. vi. To delay while waiting for
X something. "We're blocking until everyone gets here." 2. in
X BLOCK ON vt. To block, waiting for (something). "Lunch is blocked
X on Phil's arrival."
X
XBLOCK TRANSFER COMPUTATIONS n. From the Dr. Who television series: in
X the show, it referred to computations so fiendishly subtle and
X complex that they could not be performed by machines. Used to
X refer to any task that should be expressible as an algorithm in
X theory, but isn't.
X
XBLOW AWAY vt. To remove files and directories from permanant storage
X with extreme prejudice, generally by accident. Oppose NUKE.
X
XBLOW OUT vi. Of software, to fail spectacularly; almost as serious as
X CRASH AND BURN. See BLOW PAST.
X
XBLOW PAST vi. To BLOW OUT despite a safeguard. "The server blew past
X the 5K reserve buffer."
X
XBLT /bee ell tee/ or (rarely) /belt/ n.,v. 1. Synonym for BLIT. This
X is the original form of BLIT and the ancestor of BITBLT (q.v.). In
X these versions the usage has outlasted the PDP-10 BLock Transfer
X instruction for which BLT derives; nowadays, the assembler mnemonic
X BLT almost always means `Branch if Less Than Zero'.
X
XBLUE BOOK n. 1. Informal name for one of the three standard references
X on the page-layout and graphics-control language PostScript; the
X others are known as the GREEN BOOK and RED BOOK. 2. Any of the
X 1988 standards issues by the CCIT 9th plenary assembly. They change
X color each review cycle (1984 was RED BOOK, 1992 will be GREEN
X BOOK). These include, among other things, the X.400 email spec and
X the Group 1 through 4 fax standards. See also RED BOOK, GREEN BOOK,
X SILVER BOOK, PURPLE BOOK, ORANGE BOOK, WHITE BOOK, PINK-SHIRT BOOK,
X DRAGON BOOK.
X
XBLUE GLUE [IBM] n. IBM's SNA (Systems Network Architecture) an
X incredibly losing and bletcherous protocol suite widely favored at
X commercial shops that don't know any better. See FEAR AND
X LOATHING. It may not be irrelevant that BLUE GLUE is the trade name
X of a 3M product that is commonly used to hold down the carpet
X squares to the removable panel floors so common in computer
X installations. A correspondent at U.Minn. reports "The CS dept
X here has about 80 bottles of BLUE GLUE hanging about, so we're
X occasionally calling [sic] any messy work to be done `using the
X BLUE GLUE"'.
X
XBLUE GOO n. Term for "police" NANOBOTS intended to prevent GRAY GOO
X (q.v.), denature hazardous waste, destroy pollution, put ozone back
X into the stratosphere, prevent halitosis, and to promote truth,
X justice, and the American way, etc., etc. See NANOTECHNOLOGY.
X
XBNF /bee-en-ef/ n. Hacker acronym for `Backus-Naur Form', a
X metasyntactic notation used to specify the syntax of programming
X languages, command sets and the like. Widely used for language
X descriptions but seldom documented anywhere, so that it must
X usually be learned by osmosis from other hackers. Consider this
X BNF for a postal address:
X
X <postal-address> ::= <name-part> <street-address> <zip-part>
X
X <name-part> ::= <first-name> [<middle-part>] <last-name>
X
X <middle-part> ::= <middle-name> | <middle-initial> "."
X
X <street-address> ::= [<apt>] <street-number> <street-name>
X
X <zip-part> ::= <town-name> "," <state-code> <zip-code>
X
X This translates into English as: A postal-address consists of a
X name-part, followed by a street-address part, followed by a
X zip-code part. A name-part consists of a first-name followed by an
X optional middle-part followed by a last-name. A middle-part
X consists of either a middle name or a middle initial followed by a
X dot. A street address consists of an optional apartment specifier
X followed by a street number, followed by a street name. A zip-part
X consts of a town-name, followed by a state code, followed by a zip
X code. Note that many things such as the format of a first-name,
X apartment specifier or zip-code are left unspecified. These are
X presumed to be obvious from context or detailed in another part of
X the specification the BNF is part of. See also PARSE.
X
X It is worth noting that the term BNF is also used loosely for
X extensions of this notation containing some or all of the GLOB
X wildcards.
X
XBOA [IBM] n. Any one of the fat cables that lurk under the floor in
X DINOSAUR PENS. It is rumored within IBM that 370 channel cables
X are limited to 200 feet because beyond that length the boas get
X dangerous...
X
XBOAT ANCHOR n. Like DOORSTOP (q.v.) but more severe, implies that the
X offending hardware is irreversibly dead or useless.
X
XBOGOMETER n. See BOGOSITY.
X
XBOGON /boh'gon/ [by analogy with proton/electron/neutron, but doubtless
X reinforced after 1980 by the similarity to the "Vogons", see
X Appendix C] n. 1. The elementary particle of bogosity (see QUANTUM
X BOGODYNAMICS). For instance, "the ethernet is emitting bogons
X again," meaning that it is broken or acting in an erratic or bogus
X fashion. 2. A query packet sent from a TCP/IP domain resolver to a
X root server, having the reply bit set instead of the query bit. 3.
X Any bogus or incorrectly formed packet sent on a network. 4. By
X extension, used to refer metasyntactically to any bogus thing, as
X in "I'd like to go to lunch with you but I've got to go to the
X weekly staff bogon." 5. A person who is bogus or who says bogus
X things. This was historically the original usage, but has been
X overtaken by its derivatives in 1-4.
X
XBOGON FILTER /boh'gon fil'tr/ n. Any device, software or hardware,
X which limits or suppresses the flow and/or emission of bogons.
X Example: "Engineering hacked a bogon filter between the Cray and
X the VAXen and now we're getting fewer dropped packets."
X
XBOGOSITY /boh-go's@-tee/ n. 1. The degree to which something is BOGUS
X (q.v.). At CMU, bogosity is measured with a BOGOMETER; typical
X use: in a seminar, when a speaker says something bogus, a listener
X might raise his hand and say, "My bogometer just triggered." The
X agreed-upon unit of bogosity is the microLenat (uL). 2. The
X potential field generated by a bogon flux; see QUANTUM
X BOGODYNAMICS.
X
XBOGOTIFY /boh-go't@-fie/ vt. To make or become bogus. A program that
X has been changed so many times as to become completely disorganized
X has become bogotified. If you tighten a nut too hard and strip the
X threads on the bolt, the bolt has become bogotified and you'd
X better not use it any more. This coinage led to the notional
X AUTOBOGOTIPHOBIA (aw'to-boh-got'@-foh`bee-uh) n., defined as the
X fear of becoming bogotified; but is not clear that the latter has
X ever been `live' slang rather than a self-conscious joke in jargon
X about jargon.
X
XBOGUE OUT /bohg owt/ vi. to becomes bogus, suddenly and unexpectedly.
X "His talk was relatively sane until somebody asked him a trick
X question, then he bogued out and did nothing but FLAME
X afterwards".
X
XBOGUS [WPI, Yale, Stanford] adj. 1. Non-functional. "Your patches
X are bogus." 2. Useless. "OPCON is a bogus program." 3.
X False. "Your arguments are bogus." 4. Incorrect. "That
X algorithm is bogus." 5. Unbelievable. "You claim to have solved
X the halting problem for Turing Machines? That's totally bogus."
X 6. Silly. "Stop writing those bogus sagas." Astrology is bogus.
X So is a bolt that is obviously about to break. So is someone who
X makes blatantly false claims to have solved a scientific problem.
X (This word seems to have some, but not all, of the connotations of
X RANDOM.)
X
X [Etymological note: "Bogus" was originally used in the hackish sense
X at Princeton, in the late 60s. It was used not particularly in the
X CS department, but all over campus. It came to Yale, where one of
X us (Lehman) was an undergraduate, and (we assume) elsewhere through
X the efforts of Princeton alumni who brought the word with them from
X their alma mater. In the Yale case, the alumnus is Michael Shamos,
X who was a graduate student at Yale and is now a faculty member
X here. A glossary of bogus words was compiled at Yale when the word
X was first popularized (see AUTOBOGOTIPHOBIA under BOGOTIFY). By
X the mid-1980s it was also current in something like the hackish
X sense in West Coast teen slang]
X
X Further note: A correspondent at Cambridge claims these uses of
X bogus grate on British nerves; in Britain the word means rather
X specifically `counterfeit' as in "a bogus pound note".
X
XBOHR BUG /bohr buhg/ [from quantum physics] n. A repeatable BUG; one
X which manifests reliably under a possibly unknown but well-defined
X set of conditions. Antonym of HEISENBUG.
X
XBOINK /boynk/ [USENET] 1. To have sex with; compare BOUNCE, sense #3.
X In Commonwealth English this the variant "bonk" is more common.
X 2. After the original Peter Korn "Boinkcon" USENET parties, used
X for almost any net social gathering, e.g. Miniboink, a small boink
X held by Nancy Gillett in 1988; Minniboink, a Boinkcon in Minnesota
X in 1989; Humpdayboinks, Wednesday get-togethers held in the San
X Francisco Bay Area. Compare @-SIGN PARTY.
X
XBOMB vi. 1. General synonym for CRASH, esp. used of software or OS
X failures. "Don't run Empire with less than 32K stack, it'll bomb
X out" 2. Atari ST and Macintosh equivalents of PANIC or GURU (sense
X 2), where icons of little black-powder bombs or mushroom clouds are
X displayed indicating the system has died. On the Mac this may be
X accomanied by a hexadecimal number indicating what went wrong,
X similar to the Amiga GURU MEDITION number. MESS-DOS machines tend
X to get LOCKED UP in this situation.
X
XBONDAGE-AND-DISCIPLINE LANGUAGE A language such as Pascal, APL, or
X Prolog that, though ostensibly general-purpose, is designed so as
X to enforce an author's theory of "right programming" even though
X said theory is demonstrably inadequate for systems or even vanilla
X general-purpose programming. See LANGUAGES OF CHOICE.
X
XBOOT [from "by one's bootstraps"] vi.,n. To load and initialize the
X operating system on a machine. This usage is no longer slang
X (having become jargon in the strict sense), but it is sometimes
X used of human thought processes, as in the following exchange:
X "You've lost me." "O.K., reboot. Here's the theory...". Also
X found in the variants COLD BOOT (from power-off condition) and WARM
X BOOT (with the CPU and all devices already powered up, as after a
X hardware reset or software crash).
X
XBOTTLENECKED adj. 1. Used by hackers specifically to describe hardware
X under which performance is usually limited by contention for one
X particular resource (such as disk, memory or processor CLOCKS); the
X opposite condition is called `balanced', which is more jargon in
X the strict sense and may be found in technical dictionaries. 2.
X Less often, applied to the software analogue of sense #1, a slow
X code section or algorithm through which all computation must pass
X (see also HOT SPOT).
X
XBOUNCE v. 1. [UNIX, perhaps from "to bounce a check"] An electronic
X mail message which is undeliverable and returns an error
X notification to the sender is said to `bounce'. See also BOUNCE
X MESSAGE. 2. [Stanford] To play volleyball. At one time there was a
X volleyball court next to the computer laboratory. From 5:00 PM to
X 7:00 PM was the scheduled maintenance time for the computer, so
X every afternoon at 5:00 the computer would become unavailable, and
X over the intercom a voice would cry , "Bounce, bounce!" 3. To
X engage in sexual intercourse; prob. fr. the expression "bouncing
X the mattress", but influenced by Piglet's psychosexually-loaded
X "Bounce on me too, Tigger!" from the Winnie the Pooh books. 4.
X To casually reboot a system in order to clear up a transient
X problem. Reported primarily among VMS users.
X
XBOUNCE MESSAGE [UNIX] n. Notification message returned to sender by a
X site unable to relay EMAIL to the intended INTERNET ADDRESS
X recipient or the next link in a BANG PATH (see BOUNCE). Reasons
X might include a nonexistent or misspelled username or a down relay
X site. Bounce messages can themselves fail, with occasionally ugly
X results; see SORCERER'S APPRENTICE MODE.
X
XBOXEN /bok'sn/ pl n. [back-formation from VAXEN] Fanciful plural of
X `box' often encountered in the phrase `UNIX boxen', used to
X describe commodity UNIX hardware. The implication is that any two
X UNIX boxen are interchangeable.
X
XBRAIN-DAMAGED [generalization of "Honeywell Brain Damage" (HBD), a
X theoretical disease invented to explain certain utter cretinisms in
X Honeywell MULTICS] adj. Obviously wrong; CRETINOUS; DEMENTED.
X There is an implication that the person responsible must have
X suffered brain damage, because he should have known better.
X Calling something brain-damaged is really bad; it also implies it
X is unusable, and that its failure to work is due to poor design
X rather than some accident.
X
XBRAIN-DEAD adj. Brain-damaged in the extreme. Not quite like
X mainstream use, as it tends to imply terminal design failure rather
X than malfunction or simple stupidity.
X
XBRAINO /bray'no/ n. Syn. for THINKO (q.v.).
X
XBRANCH TO FISHKILL [IBM, from the location of one of their facilities]
X n. Any unexpected jump in a program that produces catastrophic or
X just plain weird results. See HYPERSPACE.
X
XBREAK v. 1. To cause to be broken (in any sense). "Your latest patch
X to the editor broke the paragraph commands." 2. (of a program) To
X stop temporarily, so that it may be examined for debugging
X purposes. The place where it stops is a "breakpoint". 3. To send
X an RS-232 "break" (125 msec. of line high) over a serial comm
X line. 4. [UNIX] To strike whatever key currently causes the tty
X driver to send SIGINT to the current process. Normally "break"
X (sense 3) or delete does this.
X
XBREAKAGE [IBM] n. The extra people that must be added to an
X organization because its master plan has changed; used esp. of
X software and hardware development teams.
X
XBRITTLE adj. Said of software that's functional but easily broken by
X changes in operating environment or configuration. Often describes
X the results of a research effort that were never intended to be
X robust, but can be applied to commercially developed software.
X Oppose ROBUST.
X
XBROADCAST STORM n. An incorrect packet broadcast on a network that
X causes most hosts to respond all at once, typically with wrong
X answers that start the process over again. Also called NETWORK
X MELTDOWN. See also CHERNOBYL PACKET.
X
XBROKEN adj. 1. Not working properly (of programs). 2. Behaving
X strangely; especially (of people), exhibiting extreme depression.
X
XBROKET /broh'k@t/ or /broh'ket/ [by analogy with "bracket": a
X "broken bracket"] (primarily Stanford) n. Either of the characters
X "<" and ">". This word originated as a contraction of the
X phrase "broken bracket", that is, a bracket that is bent in the
X middle. (At MIT, and apparently in THE REAL WORLD (q.v.) as well,
X these are usually called ANGLE BRACKETS.)
X
XBRUTE FORCE adj. Describes a certain kind of primitive programming
X style. Brute-force programs typically work by enumerating all
X possible combinations of things in an effort to find the one
X combination that solves the problem. An example of a brute-force
X program is one that sorts a thousand numbers by examining them all,
X picking the smallest one, and saving it in another table; then
X examining all the numbers again, and picking the smallest one
X except for the one it already picked; and in general choosing the
X next number by examining all one thousand numbers and choosing the
X smallest one that hasn't yet been picked (as determined by
X examining all the ones already picked). Yes, the program will
X produce the right answer, but it will be much slower than a program
X that uses even a modicum of cleverness to avoid most of the work.
X (A little bit of computer science---specifically, the theory of
X algorithms---will show that if a typical large computer can sort a
X thousand numbers in a tenth of a second using a clever sorting
X method, the brute-force method outlined above would take about 14
X hours.)
X
XBRUTE FORCE AND IGNORANCE n. A popular design technique at many
X software houses --- BRUTE FORCE coding unrelieved by any knowledge
X of how problems have been previously solved in elegant ways.
X Dogmatic adherence to design methodologies tends to encourage it.
X Characteristic of early LARVAL STAGE programming; unfortunately,
X many never outgrow it. Often abbreviated BFI, as in: "Gak, they
X used a bubble sort! That's strictly from BFI." (this comment
X might be used by a hacker to describe the example given under BRUTE
X FORCE above). Compare BOGOSITY.
X
XBSD /bee-ess-dee/ n. [acronym for Berkeley System Distribution] a
X family of UNIX versions for the DEC VAX developed by Bill Joy and
X others at University of California at Berkeley starting around
X 1980, incorporating TCP/IP networking enhancements and many other
X features. The BSD versions (4.1, 4.2, and 4.3) and commercial
X versions derived from them (SunOS and Mt. Xinu) held the technical
X lead in the UNIX world until AT&T's successful standardization
X efforts after about 1986, and are still widely popular. See UNIX,
X USG UNIX.
X
XBUCKY BITS /buh'kee bits/ [primarily Stanford] n. The bits produced by
X the CTRL and META shift keys, esp. on a Stanford (or Knight)
X keyboard (see SPACE-CADET KEYBOARD). It is rumored that these were
X in fact named for Buckminster Fuller during a period when he was
X consulting at Stanford. Unfortunately, legend also has it that
X "Bucky" was Niklaus Wirth's nickname when *he* was consulting at
X Stanford and that he first suggested the idea of the meta key, so
X its bit was named after him. See DOUBLE BUCKY, QUADRUPLE BUCKY.
X
XBUFFER OVERFLOW n. What typically happens when an OS or application is
X fed data faster than it can handle. Used metaphorically of human
X mental processes. "Sorry, I got four phone calls in three minutes
X last night and lost your message to a buffer overflow."
X
XBUG n. An unwanted and unintended property of a program or hardware,
X esp. one which causes it to malfunction. Antonym of FEATURE.
X Examples: "There's a bug in the editor: it writes things out
X backwards." "The system CRASHED because of a hardware bug."
X "Fred is a winner, but he has a few bugs." (e.g. Fred is a good
X guy, but he has a few personality problems.)
X
X Some have said this term came from telephone company usage: "bugs
X in a telephone cable" were blamed for noisy lines, but this
X appears to be a `folk etymology'. Admiral Grace Hopper (an early
X computing pioneer better known for inventing COBOL) liked to tell a
X story in which a technician solved a persistent glitch in the
X Harvard Mark II machine by pulling an actual physical bug out
X between the contacts of one of its relays, and she subsequently
X promulgated BUG in its hackish sense as a joke about the incident
X (though, as she was careful to admit, she was not there when it
X happened). For many years the logbook associated with the incident
X and the actual bug in question (a moth) sat in a display case at
X the Naval Surface Warfare Center, and now resides in the
X Smithsonian. Interestingly, the text of the log entry, which is
X said to read "First example of a real computer `bug"' establishes
X that the term was already in use at the time; and a similar
X incident is alleged to have occurred on the original ENIAC machine.
X Indeed, the use of "bug" to mean an industrial defect was already
X established in Thomas Edison's time, and "bug" in the sense of an
X annoyance goes back to Shakespeare!
X
X In any case, in hacker's slang the word almost never refers to
X insects. Here is a plausible conversation that never actually
X happened:
X
X "This ant-farm has a bug."
X
X "What do you mean? There aren't even any ants in it."
X
X "That's the bug."
X
XBUG COMPATIBLE n. Said of a design or revision the design of which has
X been badly compromised by a requirement to be compatible with
X FOSSILS or MISFEATURES in other programs or (esp.) previous releases
X of itself.
X
XBULLETPROOF adj. Used of an algorithm or implementation considered
X extremely robust; lossage-resistant; capable of correctly
X recovering from any imaginable exception condition. This is a rare
X and valued quality.
X
XBUM 1. vt. To make highly efficient, either in time or space, often at
X the expense of clarity. "I managed to bum three more instructions
X out of that code." 2. n. A small change to an algorithm, program,
X or hardware device to make it more efficient. "This hardware bum
X makes the jump instruction faster." Usage: now uncommon, largely
X superseded by TUNE (q.v.). Note that both these uses are rare in
X Commonwealth English, where "bum" is interpreted as a rude
X synonym for "buttocks".
X
XBUMP vt. Synonym for increment. Has the same meaning as C's ++
X operator. Used esp. of counter variables, pointers (see POINTER
X ARITHMETIC) and index dummies in for, while, and do-until loops.
X
XBURBLE vi. Like FLAME, but connotes that the source is truly clueless
X and ineffectual (mere flamers can be competent). A term of deep
X contempt.
X
XBUSY-WAIT vi. To wait on an event by SPINning through a tight or
X timed-delay loop that polls for the event on each pass, as opposed
X to setting up an interrupt handler and continuing execution on
X another part of the task. A wasteful technique, best avoided on
X time-sharing systems where a busy-waiting program may hog the
X processor. Syn. SPIN-LOCK
X
XBUZZ vi. 1. Of a program, to run with no indication of progress and
X perhaps without guarantee of ever finishing; esp. said of programs
X thought to be executing tight loops of code. The state of a
X buzzing program resembles CATATONIA, but you never get out of
X catatonia, while a buzzing loop may eventually end of its own
X accord. Example: "The program buzzes for about ten seconds trying
X to sort all the names into order." See SPIN. 2. [ETA Systems] To
X test a wire or PCB trace for continuity by applying an AC signal as
X opposed to applying a DC signal. Some wire faults will pass DC
X tests but fail a BUZZ test.
X
XBWQ /bee duhb'l-yoo kyoo/ [IBM] n. Buzz Word Quotient. Usually
X roughly proportional to BOGOSITY. See TLA.
X
XBYTESEXUAL /biet-seks'u-@l/ adj. Said of hardware, denotes willingness
X to compute or pass data in either BIG ENDIAN or LITTLE ENDIAN
X format (depending, presumably, on a mode bit somewhere).
X
X {= C =}
X
XC n. 1. The third letter of the Latin alphabet. 2. The name of a
X programming language designed by Dennis Ritchie during the early
X 1970s and first used to implement UNIX (q.v.). So called because
X many features derived from an earlier interpreter named 'B' in
X commemoration of *its* parent, BCPL; before Bjarne Stroustrup
X settled the question by designing C++, there was a humorous debate
X over whether C's successor should be named `D' or `P'. C became
X immensely popular outside Bell Labs after about 1980 and is now the
X dominant language in systems and microcomputer applications
X programming. See LANGUAGES OF CHOICE.
X
XCAN vt. To abort a job on a time-sharing system. Used esp. when the
X person doing the deed is an operator, as in CANNED FROM THE
X CONSOLE. Frequently used in an imperative sense, as in "Can that
X print job, the LPT just popped a sprocket!". Synonymous with GUN.
X It is said that the ASCII character with mnemonic CAN (0011000) was
X used as a kill-job character on some early OSs.
X
XCALCULATOR [Cambridge] n. Syn. for BITTY BOX.
X
XCANONICAL adj. The usual or standard state or manner of something.
X This word has a somewhat more technical meaning in mathematics.
X For example, one sometimes speaks of a formula as being in
X canonical form. Two formulas such as "9 + x" and "x + 9" are
X said to be equivalent because they mean the same thing, but the
X second one is in canonical form because it is written in the usual
X way, with the highest power of x first. Usually there are fixed
X rules you can use to decide whether something is in canonical form.
X The slang meaning is a relaxation of the technical meaning (this
X generalization is actually not confined to hackers, and may be
X found throughout academia).
X
X A true story: One Bob Sjoberg, new at the MIT AI Lab, expressed
X some annoyance at the use of jargon. Over his loud objections, we
X made a point of using jargon as much as possible in his presence,
X and eventually it began to sink in. Finally, in one conversation,
X he used the word "canonical" in jargon-like fashion without
X thinking. Steele: "Aha! We've finally got you talking jargon
X too!" Stallman: "What did he say?" Steele: "Bob just used
X `canonical' in the canonical way."
X
XCARD WALLOPER n. An EDP programmer who works on batch programs that do
X stupid things like print people's paychecks. Compare CODE GRINDER.
X
XCASTERS-UP MODE /cas'trz uhp mohd/ [IBM] n. Yet another synonym for
X `broken' or `down'.
X
XCASTING THE RUNES n. The act of getting a GURU to run a particular
X program and type at it because it never works for anyone else; esp.
X used when nobody can ever see what the guru is doing different from
X J. RANDOM LOSER does. Compare INCANTATION, RUNES, EXAMINING THE
X ENTRAILS.
X
XCAT [from "concatenate" via UNIX cat(1)] vt. To spew an entire
X (notionally large) file to the screen or some other output sink
X without pause; by extension, to dump large amounts of data at an
X unprepared target or with no intention of browsing it carefully.
X Usage: considered silly. Rare outside UNIX sites. See also DD,
X BLT.
X
XCATATONIA n. A condition of suspended animation in which something is
X so WEDGED that it makes no response. For example, if you are
X typing on a terminal and suddenly the computer doesn't even echo
X the letters back to the screen as you type, let alone do what
X you're asking it to do, then the computer is suffering from
X catatonia (possibly because it has CRASHED).
X
XCDR /ku'dr/ [from LISP] v. To remove the first item from a list of
X things. In the form CDR DOWN, to trace down a list of elements.
X "Shall we cdr down the agenda?" Usage: silly.
X
XCHAD /chad/ n. 1. The perforated edge strips on printer paper, after
X they have been separated from the printed portion. Also called
X SELVAGE and PERF. 2. obs. the confetti-like paper bits punched out
X of cards or paper tape; this was also called `chaff'.
X
XCHAIN [orig. from BASIC's CHAIN statement] vi. When used of programming
X languages, refers to a statement that allows a parent executable to
X hand off execution to a child without going through the OS command
X interpreter. The state of the parent program is lost and there is
X no returning to it. Though this facility used to be common on
X memory-limited micros and is still widely supported for backward
X compatibility, the jargon usage is semi-obsolescent; in particular
X most UNIX programmers will think of this as an EXEC. Oppose the
X more modern SUBSHELL.
X
XCHAR /keir/ or /char/; rarely, /kar/ n. Shorthand for `character'.
X Esp. used by C programmers, as `char' is C's typename for
X character data.
X
XCHASE POINTERS 1. vi. To go through multiple levels of indirection, as
X in traversing a linked list or graph structure. Used esp. by
X programmers in C, where explicit pointers are a very common data
X type. This is almost jargon in the strict sense, but remains slang
X when used of human networks. "I'm chasing pointers. Bob said you
X could tell me who to talk to about..." 2. [Cambridge] POINTER
X CHASE or POINTER HUNT: the process of going through a dump
X (intractively or on a large piece of paper printed with hex RUNES)
X following dynamic data-structures. Only used in a debugging
X context.
X
XCHEMIST [Cambridge University] n. Someone who wastes CPU time on
X number-crunching when you'd far rather the CPU was doing something
X more productive, such as working out anagrams of your name or
X printing Snoopy calendars or running LIFE patterns. May or may not
X refer to someone who actually studies chemistry.
X
XCHERNOBYL PACKET /cher-no'b@l pa'k@t/ n. An IP Ethergram with both
X source and destination Ether and IP address set as the respective
X broadcast address. So called because it induces NETWORK MELTDOWN.
X
XCHOKE vt. To reject input, often ungracefully. "I tried building X,
X but cpp choked on all those #define's." See BARF, GAG, VI.
X
XCHOMP vt. To lose; to chew on something of which more was bitten off
X than one can. Probably related to gnashing of teeth. See
X BAGBITER. A hand gesture commonly accompanies this, consisting of
X the four fingers held together as if in a mitten or hand puppet,
X and the fingers and thumb open and close rapidly to illustrate a
X biting action (much like what the PacMan does in the classic video
X game, though this pantomime seems to predate that). The gesture
X alone means CHOMP CHOMP (see Verb Doubling). The hand may be
X pointed at the object of complaint, and for real emphasis you can
X use both hands at once. For example, to do this to a person is
X equivalent to saying "You chomper!" If you point the gesture at
X yourself, it is a humble but humorous admission of some failure.
X You might do this if someone told you that a program you had
X written had failed in some surprising way and you felt dumb for not
X having anticipated it.
X
XCHOMPER n. Someone or something that is chomping; a loser. See LOSER,
X BAGBITER, CHOMP.
X
XCHRISTMAS TREE n. A kind of RS-232 line tester or breakout box
X featuring rows of blinking red and green LEDs like Christmas
X lights.
X
XCHRISTMAS TREE PACKET n. A packet with every single option set for
X whatever protocol is in use.
X
XCHROME [from automotive slang via wargaming] n. Showy features added
X to attract users, but which contribute little or nothing to the
X power of a system. "The 3D icons in Motif are just chrome!"
X Distinguished from BELLS AND WHISTLES by the fact that the latter
X are usually added to gratify developers' own desires for
X featurefulness.
X
XCHURCH OF THE SUB-GENIUS n. A mutant offshoot of DISCORDIANISM
X launched in 1981 as a spoof of fundamentalist Christianity by the
X "Rev." Ivan Stang, a brilliant satirist with a gift for
X promotion. Popular among hackers as a rich source of bizarre
X imagery and references such as: "Bob" the divine
X drilling-equipment salesman, the Benevolent Space Xists and the
X Stark Fist of Removal. Much Sub-Genius theory is concerned with
X the acquisition of the mystical substance or quality of "slack".
X See also HA HA ONLY SERIOUS.
X
XCLASSIC C /klas'ik see/ [a play on `Coke Classic'] n. The C
X programming language as defined in the first edition of the book
X "The C Programming Language" by "Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis
X M. Ritchie" with some small additions. It is also known as "K &
X R C." The name came into use during the standardisation process
X for C by the ANSI X3J11 committee. Also "C CLASSIC". This is
X sometimes generalized to "X Classic" where X = Star Trek
X (referring to the original TV series), or X = PC (referring to
X IBM's ISA-bus machines as opposed to the PS/2 series); this
X generalization is especially used of product series in which the
X newer versions are considered serious losers relative to the older
X ones.
X
XCLEAN adj. Used of hardware or software designs, implies "elegance in
X the small", that is a design or implementation which may not hold
X any surprises but does things in a way that is reasonably intutive
X and relatively easy to comprehend from the outside. The antonym is
X GRUNGY or CRUFTY.
X
XCLOCKS n. Processor logic cycles, so called because each generally
X corresponds to one clock pulse in the processor's timing. The
X relative execution times of instructions on a machine are usually
X discussed in `clocks' rather than absolute fractions of a second.
X Compare CYCLES.
X
XCLONE n. 1. An exact duplicate, as in "our product is a clone of
X their product." 2. A shoddy, spurious copy, as in "their product
X is a clone of our product." 3. A blatant ripoff, most likely
X violating copyright, patent, or trade secret protections, as in
X "your product is a clone of my product." This usage implies legal
X action is pending. 4. A PC-BUS/ISA or EISA-compatible 80x86 based
X microcomputer (in-context shorthand for "PC clone"). 5. In the
X construction UNIX CLONE: An OS designed to deliver a UNIX-lookalike
X environment sans UNIX license fees, or with additional
X "mission-critical" features such as support for real-time
X programming.
X
XCLOSE /klohz/ [from the verb "to close", thus the `z' sound] 1. n.
X Abbreviation for "close (or right) parenthesis", used when
X necessary to eliminate oral ambiguity. See OPEN. 2. adj. Of a
X delimiting character, used at the right-hand end of a grouping.
X Used in such terms as "close parenthesis", "close bracket",
X etc. 3. vt. To release a file or communication channel after
X access.
X
XCLUSTERGEEKING /kluh'ster-gee`king/ [CMU] n. An activity defined by
X spending more time at a computer cluster doing CS homework than
X most people spend breathing.
X
XCOBOL FINGERS /koh'bol fing'grs/ n. Reported from Sweden, a
X (hypothetical) disease one might get from programming in COBOL.
X The language requires extremely voluminous code. Programming too
X much in COBOL causes the fingers to wear down (by endless typing),
X until short stubs remain. This malformity is called COBOL FINGERS.
X "I refuse to type in all that source code again, it will give me
X cobol fingers!"
X
XCODE GRINDER n. 1. A SUIT-wearing minion of the sort hired in legion
X strength by banks and insurance companies to implement payroll
X packages in RPG and other such unspeakable horrors. This is about
X as far from hackerdom as you can get and still touch a computer.
X Connotes pity. See REAL WORLD. 2. Used of or to a hacker, a really
X serious slur on the person's creative ability; connotes a design
X style characterized by primitive technique, rule-boundedness, and
X utter lack of imagination. Compare CARD WALLOPER.
X
XCODE POLICE [by analogy with "thought police"] n. A mythical team of
X Gestapo-like storm troopers that might burst into one's office and
X arrest one for violating style rules. May be used either
X seriously, to underline a claim that a particular style violation
X is dangerous, or ironically, to suggest that the practice under
X discussion is condemned mainly by anal-retentive weenies. The
X ironic usage is perhaps more common.
X
XCODEWALKER n. A program component that traverses other programs for a
X living. Compilers have codewalkers in their front ends; so do
X cross-reference generators and some database front-ends. Other
X utility programs which try to do too much with source code may turn
X into codewalkers. As in "This new vgrind feature would require a
X codewalker to implement."
X
XCOKEBOTTLE /kohk'bot-l/ n. Any very unusual character, particularly
X one that isn't on your keyboard so you can't type it. MIT people
X used to complain about the "control-meta-cokebottle" commands at
X SAIL, and SAIL people complained right back about the
X "altmode-altmode-cokebottle" commands at MIT. Since the demise
X of the SPACE-CADET KEYBOARD this is no longer a serious usage, but
X may be invoked humorously to describe an (unspecified) weird or
X non-intuitive keystroke command.
X
XCOME FROM n. A semi-mythical language construct dual to the `go to';
X COME FROM <label> would cause the referenced label to act as a sort
X of trapdoor, so that if the program ever reached it control would
X quietly fall through to the statement following the COME FROM.
X COME FROM was first proposed in a Datamation article in 1973 that
X parodied the then-raging `structured programming' wars (see
X CONSIDERED HARMFUL). Mythically, some variants are the "assigned
X come from", and the "computed come from" (parodyong some nasty
X control constructs in BASIC and FORTRAN). Notionally, multi-tasking
X can be implemented by having more than one COME FROM statement
X coming from the same label.
X
X COME FROM was actually implemented under a different name in
X Univac's Fortran, c.1975. The statement "AT 100" would perform a
X "COME FROM 100". It was intended strictly as a debugging aid, with
X dire consequences promised to anyone so deranged as to use it in
X production code. It was supported under its own name for the first
X time fifteen years later, in C-INTERCAL (see INTERCAL,
X RETROCOMPUTING); knowledgeable observers are still reeling from
X shock.
X
XCOMMONWEALTH HACKISH n. Hacker slang as spoken outside the U.S., esp.
X in the British Commonwealth. It is reported that Commonwealth
X speakers are more likely to pronounce "char", "soc" etc. as
X spelled (/char/, /sok/) as opposed to American /keir/ or /sohsh/.
X Dots in names tend to be pronounced more often (/sok dot wi'bble/
X rather than /sohsh wib'ble/). Preferred metasyntactic variables
X include FRODO and BILBO; WIBBLE, WOBBLE and in emergencies WUBBLE;
X BANANA, WOMBAT and FROG and so on and on. Alternatives to verb
X doubling include suffixes "-o-rama", "frenzy" (as in feeding
X frenzy) and "city" (as in "barf city!" "hack-o-rama!" "core
X dump frenzy!"). Finally, note that the American usages `parens'
X `brackets' and `braces' for (), [], and {} are uncommon;
X Commonwealth hackish prefers "bracket", "square bracket" and
X "curly bracket". Also, the use of "pling" for BANG is common
X outside the U.S.. See also CALCULATOR, CHEMIST, GRUNGE, HEAVY
X METAL, LEAKY HEAP, LORD HIGH FIXER, PSYCHEDELICWARE, PLINGNET,
X RASTER BLASTER, SEGGIE, SPIN-LOCK, TICK-LIST FEATURES, WEEBLE,
X WEASEL, YABA and notes or definitions under BARF, BOGUS, CHASE
X POINTERS, COSMIC RAYS, CRIPPLEWARE, CRUNCH, DODGY, GONK, ROOT,
X TWEAK, and BUM.
X
XCOMPRESS [UNIX] vt. When used without a qualifier, generally refers to
X CRUNCHing of a file using a particular C implementation of
X Lempel-Ziv compression by James A. Woods et al and widely
X circulated via USENET. Use of CRUNCH (q.v.) itself in this sense is
X rare among UNIX hackers.
X
XCOMPUTER GEEK n. One who eats [computer] bugs for a living. One who
X fulfills all of the dreariest negative stereotypes about hackers:
X an asocial, malodorous, pasty-faced monomaniac with all the
X personality of a cheese grater. Cannot be used by outsiders
X without implied insult to all hackers; compare black-on-black usage
X of "nigger". A computer geek may be either a fundamentally
X clueless individual or a true-hacker in LARVAL STAGE. Also called
X TURBO NERD, TURBO GEEK. See also CLUSTERGEEKING.
X
XCOMPUTRON /kom-pyoo-tron/ n. 1. A notional unit of computing power
X combining instruction speed and storage capacity, dimensioned
X roughly in instructions-per-sec times megabytes-of-main-store times
X megabytes-of-mass-storage. "That machine can't run GNU Emacs, it
X doesn't have enough computrons!" This usage is usually found in
X metaphors that treat computing power as a fungible commodity good
X like a crop yield or diesel horsepower. See BITTY BOX, GET A REAL
X COMPUTER, TOY, CRANK. 2. A mythical subatomic particle that bears
X the unit quantity of computation or information, in much the same
X way that an electron bears one unit of electric charge (see BOGON).
X An elaborate pseudo-scientific theory of computrons has been worked
X out based on the physical fact that the molecules in a solid object
X move more rapidly as it is heated. It is argued that an object
X melts because the molecules have lost their information about where
X they are supposed to be (that is, they have emitted computrons).
X This explains why computers get so hot and require air
X conditioning; they use up computrons. Conversely, you should be
X able to cool down an object by placing it in the path of a
X computron beam. It is believed that this may also explain why
X machines that work at the factory fail in the computer room ---
X because the computrons there have been all used up by your other
X hardware.
X
XCONNECTOR CONSPIRACY [probably came into prominence with the
X appearance of the KL-10, none of whose connectors match anything
X else] n. The tendency of manufacturers (or, by extension,
X programmers or purveyors of anything) to come up with new products
X which don't fit together with the old stuff, thereby making you buy
X either all new stuff or expensive interface devices.
X
XCONS /kons/ [from LISP] 1. v. To add a new element to a list, esp. at
X the top. 2. CONS UP: vt. To synthesize from smaller pieces: "to
X cons up an example".
X
XCONSIDERED HARMFUL adj. Edsger Dijkstra's infamous March 1968 CACM
X note, _Goto_Statement_Considered_Harmful_, fired the first salvo in
X the "structured programming" wars. In the years since then a
X number of both serious papers and parodies have borne titles of the
X form "X considered Y" in reference to it. The "structured
X programming" wars eventually blew over with the realization that
X both sides were wrong, but use of such titles has remained as a
X persistent minor in-joke (the "considered silly" found at various
X places in this jargon file is related).
X
XCONTENT-FREE adj. Ironic analogy with "context-free", used of a
X message which adds nothing to the recipient's knowledge. Though
X this adjective is sometimes applied to FLAMAGE, it more usually
X connotes derision for comunication styles which exalt form over
X substance, or are centered on concerns irrelevant to the subject
X ostensibly at hand. Perhaps most used with reference to speeches
X by company presidents and like animals. "Content-free?
X Uh...that's anything printed on glossy paper".
X
XCONWAY'S LAW n. The rule that the organization of the software and the
X organization of the software team will be congruent; originally
X stated as "If you have four groups working on a compiler, you'll
X get a four-pass compiler."
X
X This was originally promulgated by Melvin Conway, an early
X proto-hacker who wrote an assembler for the Burroughs 220 called
X SAVE. "SAVE" didn't stand for anything, it was just that you
X lost fewer decks and listings because they all had SAVE written on
X top of them.
X
XCOOKIE MONSTER [from "Sesame Street"] n. Any of a family of early
X (1970s) hacks reported on TOPS-10, ITS and elsewhere that would
X lock up either the victim's terminal (on a time-sharing machine) or
X the operator's console (on a batch mainframe), repeatedly demanding
X "I WANT A COOKIE". The required responses ranged in complexity
X from "COOKIE" through "HAVE A COOKIE" and upward. See also
X WABBIT.
X
XCOPYLEFT /kop'ee-left/ n. 1. The copyright notice ("General Public
X License") carried by GNU EMACS and other Free Software Foundation
X software, granting re-use and reproduction rights to all comers
X (but see also GENERAL PUBLIC VIRUS). 2. By extension, any copyright
X notice intended to achieve similar aims.
X
XCORE n. Main storage or DRAM. Dates from the days of ferrite-core
X memory; now archaic, but still used in the UNIX community and by
X old-time hackers or those who would sound like same. See CORE
X DUMP.
X
XCORE DUMP n. [UNIX] 1. A symptom of catastrophic program failure due
X to internal error. 2. By extension, used for humans passing out,
X vomiting, or registering extreme shock. "He dumped core. All over
X the floor. What a mess." "He heard about ... and dumped core."
X 3. Occasionally used for a human rambling on pointlessly at great
X length; esp. in apology: "Sorry I dumped core on you". 4. A
X recapitulation of knowledge (compare BITS, sense 1). Hence, spewing
X all one knows about a topic, esp. in a lecture or answer to an exam
X question. "Short, concise answers are better than core dumps"
X [From the instructions to a qual exam at Columbia]. See
X CORE.
X
XCORE LEAK n. Syn. with MEMORY LEAK (q.v.).
X
XCORE WARS n. A game between "assembler" programs in a simulated
X machine, where the objective is to kill your opponent's program by
X overwriting it. This was popularized by A.K. Dewdney's column in
X _Scientific_American_. It is rumored that the game is a civilized
X version of an amusement common on pre-MMU multitasking machines.
X See CORE.
X
XCORGE /korj/ [originally, the name of a cat] n. Yet another
X meta-syntactic variable, invented by Mike Gallaher and propagated
X by the Gosmacs documentation. See GRAULT.
X
XCOSMIC RAYS n. Notionally, the cause of BIT ROT (q.v.). However, this
X is a semi-independent usage which may be invoked as a humorous way
X of HANDWAVING away any minor RANDOMNESS that doesn't seem worth the
X bother of investigating. "Hey, Eric --- I just got a burst of
X garbage on my TUBE, where did that come from?" "Cosmic rays, I
X guess". Compare SUNSPOTS, PHASE OF THE MOON. The British seem to
X prefer the usage `cosmic showers'.
X
XCP/M (see-pee-em) [Control Program for Microcomputers] An early
X microcomputer OS written by hacker Gary Kildall for 8080 and Z-80
X based machines, very popular in the late 1970s until virtually
X wiped out by MS-DOS after the release of the IBM PC in 1981 (legend
X has it that Kildall's company blew their chance to write the PC's
X OS because Kildall decided to spend the day IBM's reps wanted to
X meet with him enjoying the perfect flying weather in his private
X plane). Many of its features and conventions strongly resemble
X those of early DEC operating systems such as OS-8, RSTS and RSX-11.
X See MS-DOS, OPERATING SYSTEM.
X
XCPU WARS n. A 1979 large-format comic by Chas Andres chronicling the
X attempts of the brainwashed androids of "IPM" (Impossible to
X Program Machines) to conquer and destroy the peaceful denizens of
X HEC (Human Engineered Computers). This rather transparent allegory
SHAR_EOF
chmod 0644 jsplit.ab || echo "restore of jsplit.ab fails"
if [ $TOUCH = can ]
then
touch -am 1215215290 jsplit.ab
fi
exit 0